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The average salary for a computer graphic artist is $66,828 per year, or approximately $32 per hour. Salaries vary based on location, experience, and industry. For instance, graphic artists with specialized skills in 3D modeling or animation often command higher salaries. Entry-level positions may start lower, but as artists gain experience, their earning potential increases significantly.
States such as California and New York offer some of the highest salaries for computer graphic artists, reflecting the demand in major urban centers. Cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco are notable hubs for creative talent, leading to competitive compensation. Understanding local market trends can help artists negotiate better salaries.
Typically, entry-level graphic artists earn around $45,000 annually, while those with over five years of experience can earn upwards of $85,000. This progression highlights the value of experience and skill development in the field.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level computer graphic artist | $41,800 | $20.07 |
| Mid-level computer graphic artist | $58,500 | $28.14 |
| Senior-level computer graphic artist | $91,300 | $43.88 |
The average computer graphic artist salary in Washington, California, and Maryland are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average computer graphic artist salary states are Louisiana, Florida, and Oklahoma.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $89,240 | $42.90 |
| 2 | Washington | $103,741 | $49.88 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $94,830 | $45.59 |
| 4 | Oregon | $81,716 | $39.29 |
| 5 | Virginia | $86,697 | $41.68 |
| 6 | California | $91,851 | $44.16 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $79,321 | $38.14 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $87,404 | $42.02 |
| 9 | Idaho | $75,347 | $36.22 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $73,297 | $35.24 |
| 11 | Montana | $71,608 | $34.43 |
| 12 | New York | $77,317 | $37.17 |
| 13 | Nevada | $74,459 | $35.80 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $76,328 | $36.70 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $69,971 | $33.64 |
| 16 | Utah | $71,015 | $34.14 |
| 17 | Vermont | $69,882 | $33.60 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $66,412 | $31.93 |
| 19 | Alaska | $69,057 | $33.20 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $75,066 | $36.09 |
| 21 | Illinois | $76,408 | $36.73 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $72,120 | $34.67 |
| 23 | Arizona | $70,115 | $33.71 |
| 24 | Michigan | $67,626 | $32.51 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $63,913 | $30.73 |
| 26 | Maine | $65,167 | $31.33 |
| 27 | Delaware | $66,722 | $32.08 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $68,133 | $32.76 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $60,108 | $28.90 |
| 30 | New Jersey | $70,173 | $33.74 |
| 31 | Iowa | $63,730 | $30.64 |
| 32 | Ohio | $63,244 | $30.41 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $53,767 | $25.85 |
| 34 | Colorado | $65,551 | $31.51 |
| 35 | Indiana | $62,460 | $30.03 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $58,041 | $27.90 |
| 37 | Georgia | $60,916 | $29.29 |
| 38 | Missouri | $61,082 | $29.37 |
| 39 | Texas | $56,345 | $27.09 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $58,269 | $28.01 |
| 41 | Kansas | $55,535 | $26.70 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $48,235 | $23.19 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $56,402 | $27.12 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $50,619 | $24.34 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $54,845 | $26.37 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $55,568 | $26.72 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $51,009 | $24.52 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $54,682 | $26.29 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $52,819 | $25.39 |
| 50 | Florida | $52,384 | $25.18 |
| 51 | Alabama | $45,922 | $22.08 |
The highest-paying cities for computer graphic artists are San Francisco, CA, Andover, MA, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $104,300 | $50.14 |
| 2 | Andover, MA | $87,655 | $42.14 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $77,299 | $37.16 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $76,802 | $36.92 |
| 5 | Fairfield, CT | $76,109 | $36.59 |
| 6 | Farmington Hills, MI | $67,683 | $32.54 |
| 7 | Duluth, GA | $61,391 | $29.51 |
| 8 | Dallas, TX | $56,148 | $26.99 |
| 9 | Orlando, FL | $52,522 | $25.25 |
A computer graphic artist's salary ranges from $37,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $118,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $118,000 | $9,833 | $57 |
| 75th Percentile | $90,000 | $7,500 | $43 |
| Average | $66,828 | $5,569 | $32 |
| 25th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| 10th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
The highest paying types of computer graphic artists are lead designer, senior designer, and lead graphic designer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelance Designer | $57,260 | $4,772 | $27.53 | 45,914 |
| Lead Designer | $110,001 | $9,167 | $52.89 | 45,423 |
| Web Designer | $63,842 | $5,320 | $30.69 | 50,899 |
| Designer | $66,347 | $5,529 | $31.90 | 52,433 |
| Design Internship | $45,791 | $3,816 | $22.01 | 97,018 |
| Graphic Design Manager | $66,975 | $5,581 | $32.20 | 48,269 |
Top companies hiring computer graphic artists now:
Computer graphic artist salaries at The Walt Disney Company and Rockstar Games are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average computer graphic artist salary at companies like Electronic Arts and Activision Blizzard are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Walt Disney Company | $109,386 | $52.59 |
| 2 | Rockstar Games | $106,089 | $51.00 |
| 3 | Electronic Arts | $95,192 | $45.77 |
| 4 | Activision Blizzard | $90,989 | $43.74 |
| 5 | Psyop | $81,453 | $39.16 |
| 6 | Reel FX | $79,130 | $38.04 |
| 7 | Stargate Studios | $77,995 | $37.50 |
| 8 | Digital International Corp | $73,263 | $35.22 |
| 9 | Vision Graphics | $69,863 | $33.59 |
| 10 | Red Car | $69,854 | $33.58 |
| 11 | Information Management Group | $67,181 | $32.30 |
The average computer graphic artist salary has risen by $11,731 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average computer graphic artist earned $55,097 annually, but today, they earn $66,828 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for computer graphic artists over the last decade.
Compare computer graphic artist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare computer graphic artist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $66,800 | $32.13 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $65,200 | $31.36 | +3.3% |
| 2023 | $63,100 | $30.32 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | $61,000 | $29.31 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $59,600 | $28.67 | +1.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer Limited | Computer Graphics (1) | Bono, AR | 09/26/2024 | $27,131 |
| Freelancer Limited | Computer Graphics (1) | Bono, AR | 09/16/2024 | $54,262 |
| Freelancer Technology Pty | Computer Graphics (0) | Bono, AR | 09/11/2024 | $13,497 |
| Freelancer Limited | Computer Graphics (1) | Bono, AR | 09/10/2024 | $135,655 |
| Miami Dade College | Computer Graphic Artist | Miami, FL | 04/01/2024 | $26,922 |
| Leidos | Computer Graphics 3D Artist/Modeler | Bethesda, MD | 02/18/2024 | $49,400 |
| Cosm | Computer Graphics Production Artist | Salt Lake City, UT | 08/28/2023 | $115,000 |
| Cosm | Computer Graphics Production Artist | Los Angeles, CA | 08/28/2023 | $115,000 |
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